Sony has finally announced prices for its forthcoming A95L QD-OLED TVs in the U.S. The new series is the company’s flagship TV model this year and will be available for pre-order on August 21, with 55-, 65- and 77-inch sizes available to choose from.
The company announced pricing for the rest of its TV lineup in June, but it kept mum about the A95L series. The new TVs are highly anticipated because last year’s successor, the Sony A95K QD-OLED TV, was one of the best-rated TVs to launch that year.
Sony’s A95K was far more expensive than Samsung Electronics’ equivalent S95B QD-OLED TV, but this year it has lowered its prices quite significantly.
Sony said the 55-inch A95L will cost $2,799, while the 65-inch model will go for $3,499 and the 77-inch model will retail at $4,999. In contrast, Samsung’s S95C this year will cost $2,499, $3,299 and $4,499, respectively, for the 55-, 65- and 77-inch models.
Sony’s new prices are not what anyone would call cheap, but they do represent a significant reduction from last year’s A95K, which was priced at $2,999 for the 55-inch model and $3,999 for the 65-inch version when it first launched last year. Samsung’s S95B was quite a bit more affordable at the time, retailing for $1,799 for the 55-inch version and $2,799 for the 65-inch model.
With Sony reducing its prices and Samsung opting for an increase, the two models are brought into much closer parity, meaning buyers who are looking to buy a QD-OLED TV on a relatively constrained budget have more options to consider.
For many buyers, the decision will ultimately come down to brand preference, but no matter which model they buy, they can expect a significantly brighter display compared to last year’s first generation QD-OLED models.
Sony said the A95L QD-OLED TV delivers up to twice the peak brightness of last year’s A95K TV. The company said two factors have contributed to this improvement. First, the A95L is based on a superior QD-OLED panel that has been made more efficient than last year’s model. In addition, Sony squeezes extra brightness through its in-house Cognitive Processor XR and a proprietary physical heat sink that’s built into the TV.
Another reason to buy Sony’s model is that it’s probably the most suitable QD-OLED TV for PlayStation console owners, with its unique “Perfect for PlayStation 5” designation. The TV supports 4K 120Hz Dolby Vision gaming, going one better than last year’s model, which didn’t support Dolby Vision gaming. When a PS5 console is detected, the TV will switch to an auto genre picture mode and auto HDR tone mapping to ensure more realistic graphics and smoother gameplay.
Sony also highlighted the A95L’s Acoustic Surface Audio+ feature that generates sound from the display itself through actuators positioned behind it. Meanwhile, Acoustic Center Sync elevates human voices to more directly match on-screen visuals when a Sony soundbar is paired with the TV. Customers can also use the supplied Sony Bravia Cam for Google Meet video calls.
HDTVTest reviewer Vincent Teoh recently managed to get a quick look at the Sony A95L, and this is what he found:
